Blogs
-
Could prejudice be another factor in driver shortage?
Underlying prejudices tend to be a subject no one particularly enjoys talking about, but it’s something that needs to be discussed, including within the trucking industry. That’s not to say trucking is full of bigots. In fact, the vast majority…
-
Trump’s see-saw China policies rattle oil markets
Admonish the thought (out, damned spot!) that there is no political element in the day-to-day changes in the value of crude oil or its refined derivatives. To compensate, add the thought that I am convinced U.S. President Donald Trump and…
-
Making driver appreciation a year-round event
National Trucking Week will be celebrated across Canada Sept. 1-7, but winning fleets – and even manufacturers – have come to the realization driver appreciation should be celebrated year-round. Don’t get me wrong, I applaud all fleets and suppliers that…
-
The news story that just won’t go away…
There’s this one particular news story that just won’t go away, and it has a surprise ending — or is it just the beginning? I think, in the media world (a world within itself), this is called a teaser. An opening…
-
Third-party certification for ELDs a no-brainer, but comes with side-effects
So, electronic logging devices (ELDs) are finally coming to Canada in 2021. A little bit behind our neighbors to the south, but perhaps a blessing in disguise. It will be two years this December since the U.S. ELD mandate was…
-
Tackling Driver Retention – Part 7: The circle of success
Here we are at the end of this series. If you were to try and follow this process from beginning to end, I would suspect that the whole process would take six to 12 months. If done correctly, you should…
-
Oil politics: It’s like arguing with the mirror
Water runs downhill and so does crude oil. Well, at least oil is running south of the border. This, despite the efforts of the foreign-funded E-Wacks, and our very own energy denier, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, ironically the owner of…
-
A dead-end street to owning a fleet
The insurance industry’s crackdown on insurability, and its aversity to risk, is making it all but impossible for new ventures to flourish. But unfortunately, a widespread lack of awareness about the changing dynamics in the trucking insurance industry is snuffing…
-
This investigation could be contagious
After reading this you may all think that you’ve contracted “Yogi Berra disease”, colloquially known as deja vu all over again syndrome. This is because in a recent report I ruminated on the elliptical thought processes going through the mind…
-
Editorial comment: Telling your story can help attract the next generation of workers
I couldn’t agree more with B.C. Trucking Association president and CEO Dave Earle’s declaration that the trucking industry has to do a better job telling its good-news stories. Having worked in this industry for nearly four years, for several years…
-
Tackling Driver Turnover – Part 6: Professionals
As I’m sure everyone is aware that this process cannot be successful by jumping around the different parts or dteps. Each section is designed to build on the last. So, we have done the groundwork, the platform, the safety focus,…
-
Protect your record against ‘non-preventable’ accidents
The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration launched the Crash Preventability Demonstration Program in August 2017. It allows motor carriers or drivers involved in certain crash types to submit Requests for Data Review through FMCSA’s DataQs system. Originally intended to…
-
Blank canvas trailers a missed marketing opportunity
A constant frustration of mine is the industry’s lack of imagination when it comes to taking advantage of the 53-ft. billboards most trucking companies are pulling. There are too many plain white trailers out there, and so many wasted opportunities…
-
Keeping the ‘big, bad trucking company’ off the verdict slip
Demonizing the trucking company is a standard tactic of billboard advertisers who sue our industry. They seek to arouse the passion and prejudice against what they paint as the “big, bad trucking company.” One of the best ways to avoid…
-
New USMCA deal favors U.S. with Canadian oil
Think before you speak and read it before you sign it. These will be my words of advice to the thundering herd of currently employed and pensioned politicians as they scamper back to their ridings waving their… “remember me?” signs!…
